“I know. But you look like you had a bad day, and nothing helps a bad day more than cookies and milk, no matter how old you are.”
Savannah laughed. “You are right about that.”
Grace Lee dropped her gardening hat on a bench by the front door as they went into the house and down the hall to the cozy kitchen. A plate of fresh-baked chocolate-chip cookies sat on the table. The scent of chocolate filled the air, and Savannah grabbed the biggest cookie off the top of the pile. She sank her teeth into the soft, chewy dessert and her mouth watered. Delicious. Her mother had used her grandmother’s secret recipe. “These are awesome, Mom.”
“Thanks. I’ve been busy the last few days.” She poured two glasses of milk, then sat across from her daughter.
“So...what happened?” Savannah asked.
Grace Lee shrugged. “I just woke up one day and realized that your father would never want me to lie in that dark bedroom, day after day, missing him. I started small. Just cleaning the house, then I moved on to baking, and then today, I went and bought the flowers to plant. It’s not much, but—”
Savannah’s hand covered her mother’s. “It’s a lot. I’m so glad for you.”
“Thank you.” Grace Lee’s eyes were watery but her smile was strong. The two shared a long moment, hands clasped, a renewed sense of hope filling the kitchen. “Now, tell me all about you. How is it going at the company?”
“Good.”
Grace Lee cocked her head. “Your voice says the opposite.”
Savannah sighed. “It’s been tough, Mom. I’m doing my best, and Mac Barlow is helping me. Sort of.”
Savannah had told her mother all about Mac back when he’d made his first offer, and kept her in the loop in the months since. They’d discussed Mac’s offer on the business ad nauseam. Her mother had always said it was Savannah’s choice, though Savannah could see that the thought of selling off Hillstrand Solar made her sad.
When Savannah told her mother that Mac had been working at Hillstrand for the past few days, Grace made a little face. “I thought he wanted to buy the company.”
“I talked him into helping me for a week to get Hillstrand Solar back on track. He’s had some great ideas to reduce waste and increase productivity.” And already Savannah could see the changes helping. Not in huge ways, but she knew these little things were going to add up quickly to better cash flow and a smoother operation. And less stress for Savannah.
“So the company is doing well again?” her mother asked.
“It’s getting there, but yes. I’ve got confidence in the future.”
“And how about you? How are you doing?”
“I’m fine, Mom.” Except for that little broken heart thing today. Okay, so maybe it wasn’t so little, and maybe she was still sitting on the edge of a sob fest, but she’d get over that. Eventually.
“I meant how are you doing in the job?” Grace Lee’s fingers intertwined with her daughter’s. “I know your father asked you to take over, but really, honey, that was too much to put on you.”
“It’s fine. I’m fine.”
“You say that enough times, I might even believe you.” A soft smile stole across her mother’s face. It was the kind of smile only a mother could have. The kind that said she understood and saw past all the little lies Savannah was telling herself. “You don’t have to do this. We can find someone else to run your father’s company, and let you do what makes you happy.”
Savannah shook her head. “I promised Dad. It was the last thing he asked of me.”
“I know that. But it was wrong of him to do so.” Grace Lee put up a hand before Savannah could argue. “Your father was a wonderful man, and I loved him dearly. But he loved that company just as much, if not more. And he asked that of you, knowing it wasn’t what you wanted. Because he knew you wouldn’t say no.”
“Mom, we had this conversation—”
“And we’re having it again, because you keep dismissing me. I think your father always hoped you’d love that company as much as he did. But you don’t.”
Savannah let out a long sigh. “No. I don’t.”
Finally saying the words, admitting the truth, filled her with a relief that went bone deep. She’d gone too long pretending to be something she wasn’t, and at least here, with the cookies and milk and her mother’s kind, understanding eyes, she could be honest.
“Then stop doing it.”
“It’s not that simple, Mom. If I step down, who’s going to run the company? And if no one runs it, then I have to sell to Mac Barlow. He’s just going to split it up and sell it again. And all those people will lose their jobs.”
Grace Lee sighed. Then her face wrinkled in a bittersweet smile. “I wish your father was here. He’d know what to do.”
“Yes, he would.” That was the irony in the moment, that the one person who knew what to do had died and, in doing so, had created this conundrum. Her father would step in and take over, doing whatever it took to keep Hillstrand running and keep his “family” employed. But when she looked at herself, had she really committed like she should have? She’d let herself get distracted by the beach house, by her own wants and needs. Instead of what was important. Savannah got to her feet and gave her mother a hug. “Thanks, Mom.”
“For what?”
“For the cookies—” Savannah plucked three more off the plate “—and the advice. I know what to do now.”
Grace Lee put a hand on Savannah’s arm. “Do what makes you happy. That’s what your father would really want.”
Savannah just nodded instead of saying the truth. Because if she did what made her happy, she’d head out to the beach house and immerse herself in sanding and painting and repairing. But that wasn’t what her father would do, and that wasn’t the way to bring a happy ending to everyone else. As for her own happy ending, it could wait.
Chapter Eleven
Mac wrestled with the bow tie, then finally gave up and tossed it on the counter. Stupid things. He’d never been able to master them. Too many loops. He was standing in a tux shop with his brothers at the tail end of the day, with only two days to go until Jack’s wedding.
“Why am I wearing this thing again? I thought you were having a simple wedding.”
Jack grinned. “I am. We just made you put on the monkey suit to torture you.”
Luke laughed. “And it worked.”
“Wait. I don’t have to wear a tux on Saturday?” He glared at Jack, who just stood there grinning like the Cheshire cat.
“Nope. Just a white dress shirt and a dark pink tie. We’re wearing khakis, but you can wear your jeans, for all me and Meri care. We just want people to have fun.”
They’d dragged him off to the mall, shoved him into the dressing room at the rental shop and made him try on not just one, but two tuxes. “Has anyone told you two that you are terrible brothers?”
Luke grinned. “Every day. It’s our special talent.”
“Oh, it’s a talent all right.” Mac tugged off the tuxedo jacket, undid the shirt and pants, then handed them to the salesman. A few minutes later he was dressed in his own clothes and heading out of the store with his brothers.
His brothers. Two out of the three. He glanced at Jack and Luke, and knew he couldn’t keep this secret another second. Given how Bobby had handled telling Della, maybe it was best that Mac delivered the news. Mac couldn’t imagine his mother having to do it, and really, in the past few days he’d felt himself growing closer to his brothers, building that bond he had missed. Part of that was being honest with Jack and Luke, rather than keeping a secret. “How about we grab some dinner and a couple beers?” Mac said. “I’m buying.”
“Then I’m coming,” Luke said with a grin.
“Me, too.” Jack climbed in his pickup truck, with Mac taking shotgun and Luke slidi
ng into the backseat.
They drove across town to a greasy spoon roadside diner that served amazing burgers and a long list of beers. Sometimes, Mac realized, it didn’t matter how much money he had—the cheapest, simplest food was better tasting than the fancy five-star meals. Just walking in the place brought back memories for Mac. He and his family had eaten there often when he was young—the boys always ordering the same giant double-patty cheeseburgers. Being here again filled Mac with a sense of belonging, of home. Comfort.
The Barlow boys tucked into a booth in the back corner, and once the three were on their second beers, Mac decided it was time.
He steepled his fingers on the table. “I have something I have to tell you guys.”
“Uh-oh,” Luke said, elbowing Jack. “That’s Mac’s serious face.”
“Maybe he’s about to tell us he’s madly in love with Savannah.” Jack grinned.
How had this conversation gotten turned around so quickly? “I am not—”
“He should be. Hell, I’d be in love with her if I wasn’t already in love with Peyton.” Luke turned to Jack, completely ignoring Mac. “She can swing a hammer and operate a chop saw. That screams sexy to me.”
“If she watches football, too, she’s a total keeper.” Jack turned to Mac. “So tell us, is she a Seahawks or Packers fan?”
“Neither. Maybe. I don’t know.” Mac let out a gust. His brothers frustrated him no end. And they’d raised his hackles with all that talk about Savannah. Not that it should bother him what another man thought about her. But it did bother him. A lot. “That isn’t what I wanted to talk about.”
“Okay. Serious faces.” Luke glanced at Jack, and the two of them mimicked Mac’s pose with the stern looks and steepled fingers. “Shoot.”
Now that the moment was here, Mac wasn’t quite sure how to handle it. Maybe it was best to do it the way he had with Savannah—fast and without a lot of preamble. He took a deep breath. “Dad had an affair when he and Mama first got married, and it turns out we have another brother.”
Jack’s jaw dropped. Luke blinked. Neither of them said anything for a long time.
“Another...” Jack shook his head. “Wait, for real? You aren’t kidding?”
“Have I ever been the jokester in the family?” Mac asked. “No, I’m not kidding.”
“Whoa. That’s unbelievable.” Luke rubbed at his jaw. “Where is he? How did you find out?”
Mac told them what he knew about Colton, starting with the phone call from Uncle Tank, then finishing with the conversation he’d had with their half brother. “Dad told Mom last night.”
“How’d that go?” Luke asked.
Mac arched a brow. “How do you think?”
Jack let out a low curse. “Damn. This is going to destroy her. We should go over there, make sure she’s okay. Dad, too.”
“Why do you care how Dad is doing?” Mac said. “He’s the one who screwed up. The one who ruined everything.”
“No, Mac. Dad made a mistake,” Jack said. “A big one, I agree, but a mistake nonetheless. Everyone makes mistakes. It’s the job of the family, of the people who love him, to accept and understand.”
“And forgive,” Luke added.
Mac scowled. What was wrong with his brothers? How could they be so quick to accept this and move on? “Doesn’t this bother you guys?”
“Well, yeah, but what good does that do?” Jack said. “It’s done. Colton is coming to town to meet us, and that’s it. He’s our half brother. The only right thing to do is to accept him.”
“And what, welcome him with open arms?”
“Well, yeah.” Jack glanced at Luke, who nodded agreement. “It’s not Colton’s fault he was the product of an affair. And unless he’s just like you—” Jack gave Mac a grin “—I say we let him into the clan.”
Mac stared at his brothers, dumbfounded. He’d expected them to be rocked by this news, yet instead they had decided to embrace it. It reminded him of what Savannah had said on the roof. All those people facing their own challenges and triumphs. Some have harder challenges than others, some celebrate greater triumphs. But we’re all in this together.
It was the view that he took that would make a difference going forward. He could continue to be bitter and resent Colton’s entrance into his life, or he could take the road his brothers had chosen and embrace the change. We’re all in this together.
“Well, if you want to meet him, I’ll give you his number,” Mac said. “I know he really wants to meet you guys.”
“Thanks,” Jack said. “I’ll give him a call today. Maybe he can stop by before the wedding. Meet everyone, since we’ll all be in one place.”
“Lord help you if he’s just like Jack and me,” Luke said with a grin. “Because then the teasing will commence—”
“And won’t stop till you’re crying uncle,” Jack added. Then Jack reached out an arm, hauled Mac across the table and into a tight three-man Barlow hug. We’re all in this together.
Yeah, they were. And that felt good. Damned good.
* * *
Friday morning, Savannah was at work before the sun rose. She opened the report Mac had prepared on making Hillstrand Solar a leaner operation, and started jotting notes on the steps she could take right now to implement the rest of the changes. But with every note she made, her steps seemed to weigh more and more, her heart growing heavier. It seemed as though she was slogging through mud.
Her mother’s words kept echoing in her head. Do what makes you happy. That’s what your father would really want.
A hundred times, Savannah glanced at the picture of her father on her desk, as if doing that would suddenly give her the right answers. Then she’d look around the company, at all the desks of all the people whose lives would be impacted if Hillstrand Solar were sold off, and that got her to go back to work. Regardless of what made her happy, these people were counting on her to do the right thing. Her father wouldn’t have asked her to run the company if he didn’t think she was the right person for the job. Would he?
So she kept on making lists and jotting notes and moving forward. This was her life, and she needed to accept that and make it work. Otherwise, these desks would be empty, these people unemployed and it would all be her fault.
A little after seven, Mac came into the office. He had an extra large coffee in one hand and shadows dusting his eyes. “Morning.”
Concern for him filled her, even though she told herself she was still mad at him. But that didn’t stop her from caring about him or worrying that he looked like he hadn’t slept more than a few minutes. “Late night?”
“Out with my brothers. I forget they’re younger than me. And more experienced at the drinking thing.” Mac grimaced.
Savannah laughed and reached for her purse. She pulled out a bottle of aspirin and shook two pills into her palm. “Here. This should help.”
“Thanks. The hotel didn’t have any, and I forgot to stop at the pharmacy on my way over here.” He knocked the aspirin back with the coffee, then sank into his chair. He rubbed at his temples, then took another sip of coffee and focused on her. “Okay, so what’s on the agenda today?”
She pulled out one of her lists. In the corner of the page, she had unconsciously doodled a drawing of the beach house. Savannah grabbed a pen and scribbled it out, then refocused on the words before her. The entire page was filled already. Just looking at all those bulleted items made her feel overwhelmed, almost depressed. She was finally getting the company back on track, and it made her want to cry. What was wrong with her?
“We have a meeting with the bankers at lunch to renegotiate the loan terms,” Savannah said. “And two of our suppliers are coming in this morning to discuss cost-cutting options. And we have a staff meeting after lunch. Plus we are supposed to do an inventory analysis and—”
“I can tell.” She knew how that felt. Heck, she’d been feeling as if she’d been working with half a brain ever since she’d stepped into her father’s role. “Well, if you want me to handle all this—”
He put up a hand. “Before we get started on everything today, I want to ask you something.”
She drew in a deep breath and pretended she felt calm. “Okay, shoot.”
“My brother’s wedding is tomorrow afternoon. It’s a casual event, nothing too fancy. But I wanted to see if you would like to go with me.” Then he gave her a sheepish grin. “Also, my brothers told me that if I didn’t invite you, they would tie you and me together and haul us to the wedding themselves.”
He was inviting her to a wedding? After everything? “Do you really want me to go?”
His eyes met hers. “That’s why I’m asking you.”
But he wasn’t asking anything more of her. Just to be his plus one. She wanted more, a lot more. She had ever since that first kiss, and didn’t know how to turn off that feeling. To stop caring about him. “I don’t know. I mean, we’re working together and not really having a relationship, and it’s a wedding and... It’s probably not a good idea.”
“You’re probably right. It’s probably a terrible idea. But I still want to go with you.” Mac got to his feet and took her hand in his. She loved the feel of his palm against hers, of how easily they seemed to fit together. “In fact, you’re probably right about a lot of things, including me. I am gun-shy when it comes to relationships. I can flip a business in five minutes flat, but when it comes to dating, and actually being with someone, being a hundred percent there, I...suck. I’m terrible at it. I’m so used to my world of numbers and reports, and then I met you.”
“And what did that change?”
“Everything. Every damned thing I thought I knew.” He ran his thumb over the back of her hand and let out a long breath. “Listen, Savannah, I’m leaving on Sunday. I have to go back to Boston, back to my business up there.”
Harlequin Special Edition October 2015, Box Set 1 of 2 Page 53
